Swansea Local Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History of Swansea

    In medieval times the main industries in Swansea were leather and wool. In the 17th century the port was starting to become a very big part of the town, as coal mining grew in South Wales. Shipbuilding and iron were also big industries during this time. In the late 18th century the Swansea canal meant the port area became even busier. The North Dock was built in 1852 and the So...Read moreuth Dock was built in 1859. The Prince of Wales Dock was built in 1881, the Kings Dock in 1909 and the Queens Dock in 1920. Swansea suffered from heavy bombing in the Second World War and the town centre had to be rebuilt in the 1960s. The South Dock closed down in 1969 and then reopened as a marina in 1982. Swansea became a city in 1969. Read less

  • 2. Now in Swansea

    Swansea Marina is a modern area of restaurants, shops and marine businesses in the Maritime Quarter of the city. Swansea University is at the heart of city life along with Swansea City Football Club. Mumbles is the area to go for independent shops, cafes and restaurants as well as galleries showing local arts and crafts. Mumbles Lighthouse, built in 1794, is still in operation ...Read moretoday. The Gower Peninsular is popular with walkers and surfers and its beaches are said to be among the cleanest and most beautiful in Wales. Read less

  • 3. Events in Swansea

    Swansea Bay Summer Festival runs from May to September and includes a wide variety of events taking place for locals and holidaymakers. Swansea has its own annual comedy festival, which has been running for two years and is already attracting big names. Other annual events to take place in the city include the Wales National Airshow, Botanics in Bloom and the Admiral Swansea Ba...Read morey 10k race. The Gower Festival celebrates music, churches and summer evenings and takes place over two weeks in July. The Gower Rock Festival is a three-day live music event in July. It has been running for four years and has performances from local and national bands. The Gower Show is a one-day event in August that includes displays by dogs, horses and falcons and well as entertainment for the whole family. Other annual events include the MumblesGower OceanFest, Gower Cycling Festival, Gower Bluegrass Festival and Gower Cider Festival Weekend. Read less

  • 4. Attractions in Swansea

    The Dylan Thomas Centre attracts fans from all over the world and has a permanent exhibition about the writer as well as a programme of arts events and the Dylan Thomas Festival. The National Waterfront Museum uses modern interactive technology and displays to show the history of Wales. The Swansea Museum is the oldest museum in Wales and has an Egyptian mummy and floating exhi...Read morebits among its highlights. Oystermouth Castle overlooks Swansea Bay and the earliest building in the keep dates back to the 12th century. Oxwich Castle is the remains of a Tudor mansion and sits above Oxwich Bay, Gower. Plantasia is an indoor rainforest with insects, reptiles, fish, monkeys, exotic plants and more. Read less

  • 5. Things To Do in Swansea

    Ride the Swansea Bay Rider land train, which takes you along the seafront in Swansea Bay. Art galleries in the area include Attic Gallery, The Lovespoon Gallery and the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery. Dylan Thomas fans can take guided tours of Swansea, Mumbles and the Gower Peninsular, taking in important sites from the writer's life. Tours are also available of his former home.

  • 6. Business in Swansea

    Shopping facilities in Swansea are vast and varied. The Quadrant Shopping Centre has high street shops and department stores under one roof. Independent shops can be found in High Street, Plymouth Street and Castle Arcade. Oxford Street is the pedestrianised zone of the city centre and has all the big name brands. This region attracts over 50,000 visitors a week. Swansea Market...Read more is the largest indoor market in Wales and has over 100 stalls selling food, gifts, cards, flowers, clothes and more. Mumbles offers boutiques and smaller shops selling items such as surf wear and hand-crafted jewellery. Read less

  • 7. Transport in Swansea

    Swansea is in south west Wales. To travel by car it takes three and a half hours from London and nearly three hours from Birmingham. The M6, M5, M42 and M50 motorways link Swansea Bay to the rest of the UK. Swansea train station is in the city centre and just 15 minutes' walk from Swansea Bay. Frequent trains run direct from London Paddington, Bristol, Cardiff, Newport, Herefor...Read mored, Shrewsbury, Crewe and Manchester and there are good links to the rest of the UK. The nearest international airport to Swansea is Cardiff, which is 50 minutes away by road or rail and offers flights from major European cities. Ferries travel from Swansea to Cork and Pembrokeshire. Read less

  • 8. Entertainment in Swansea

    The Swansea Grand Theatre is the venue for big West End shows and music and dance performances. The venue also has its own regular comedy club. Pontardawe Arts Centre has a theatre, dance studio, cinema, meeting rooms and art gallery and its varied programme of events includes classical music, drama and dance, literature, children's theatre and blues and world music.

  • 9. Famous Landmarks in Swansea

    Mumbles Pier was built in 1898 and this Victorian structure is still in use today. It juts 225 metres out into Mumbles Bay. Oystermouth Castle sits above the bay and offers spectacular views. The building has been restored.

  • 10. Interesting Facts about Swansea

    Swansea has 32 miles of stunning coast with 52 named beaches and coves - that amounts to a beach for every week of the year.

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  • Models strut in city centre

    Models brought a bit of glamour to weekend shopping when they paraded down a catwalk in the city centre.The catwalk was set up in Princess Way in Swansea during a weekend in April for a fashion show to take place. The aim of the event was to encourage more shoppers into the city centre and show off some of the fashions on offer in its stores. It is the first time an event of its kind has been held. The …

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  • Castle to be lit up for the Queen

    Swansea Castle will help to light up the country for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee when it is used as the site for a celebration beacon. The beacon will be lit on the battlements of the castle as part of a sequence across the country. It is thought the Swansea beacon will be lit sometime between 10pm and 10.30pm on June 4. Celebrations will also take place in Castle Square, with live events from London being shown on the Big Screen …

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  • New head announced

    The headteacher of Swansea’s brand new school has been named. Rhian James Collins has been appointed to be headteacher of the Ysgol Gymraeg y Cwm when it opens for the first time in September. Rhian, who is currently a deputy headteacher in Neath, said: “I am delighted to have the very special opportunity to help develop from the start what I am sure is going to be a happy and successful school. “I am very much looking forward to welcoming …

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  • Student is top of the sparks

    Student Lewis Riordan has proved he is a bright spark after scooping top prize in a competition. The 16-year-old Gower College student has been named as the best young electrical installer in Wales. He was named the winner of the Skills Competition Wales electrical instillation competition after beating finalists from all over Wales. Lewis, from Gowerton, is studying Level 2 Electrotechnical Technology at the college and hopes to set up his own business one day. He said: “My tutor at …

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